Recently, a wellness wave has swept most of the world. It seems like people are becoming increasingly concerned about maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, from a new breed of workouts to a gym seemingly popping up at every other corner.
Getting proper nutrition is also on everyone’s radar these days. And in a world that operates at such a fast pace, it’s important for people to be able to keep up their healthy eating habits despite always being on-the-go.
That’s where the smoothie comes in—healthy, delicious, handy. But to get the best smoothie, one also has to find the best blender on the market. So let’s compare some of the top-rated ones today to find the best of the best!
Criteria For Finding The Best Blender On The Market
Before detailing the features and capabilities of three top-rated blenders today, here’s a list of factors that the blenders ought to fulfill to garner the top spot:
- Power – the blender must be powerful enough and equipped with the right tools to take on everyday use.
- Safety – a blender with good safety measures can mean the difference between a minor accident and a trip to the emergency room.
- Versatility – the blender ought to offer more than just a range of speeds.
- Convenience – it should be easy to use and clean and should fit into one’s busy lifestyle.
Epica Personal Blender with Take-Along Bottle
Features
The Epica Personal Blender is a powerful machine, equipped with a 250-watt motor capable of 23,000 RPM. The steel blades are made of stainless steel. But with great power comes great responsibility, and Epica makes sure to be responsible for ensuring safety to its users.
The blender does not allow the motor to operate unless the jar is secured, avoiding nasty accidents. The bottom is fitted with suction feet, which prevents the appliance from being knocked down by clumsy hands. The jar is also dishwasher-safe, and it can be placed in the refrigerator and freezer.
The Epica is as its name suggests, epic enough to process foods and liquids at various temperatures, from icy -40° to a warm 175°F, giving you the option to make smoothies and purees.
Lastly, the blender jar doubles as a portable drinking bottle which you can just twist off once you’re done. The bottle is 20-oz and is durable, scratch-resistant, and BPA-free.
Pros
One of the best features of the Epica is its ‘personal’ set-up. A lot of people make smoothies because they’re too busy to sit down for breakfast, which means that they’re probably too busy to wash their dishes in the morning as well.
That’s why it’s great that the Epica doesn’t require transferring the blended liquids to another container. Just twist the jar off the base, slap on the cap, and you’re good to go.
Another great thing about this blender is its attention to detail when it comes to safety. It’s really easy to get into an accident when handling sticky and slippery liquids, and a motor spinning at 23,000 RPM is not something you want to accidentally come into contact with.
The shutoff feature and suction feet help prevent accidents. Using BPA-free materials that don’t retain smells and odors is just the cherry on top.
Being able to process foods at different temperatures is also a big plus, as it makes for a versatile device. It’s not just for smoothies and cocktails; it’s good for purees, soups, and sauces too.
Cons
Unfortunately, the Epica is the weakest among the three in terms of wattage. However, it shouldn’t affect your blending too much, and can even be seen as a pro for those who wish to be more energy efficient.
There’s only one option for the blending jar, and it’s in the form of a 20 oz. bottle. Though a 20-ounce bottle is good for portability, it’s pretty small if you want to make bigger batches of whatever it is you’re blending. That’s more effort on your part.
Nutri Ninja Pro Blender, Silver (BL456)
Features
Coming in to challenge the Epica is The Nutri Ninja Pro, another powerful personal blender packing 900 watts in its motor. It boasts “Extractor Blades” which are said to be able to break down whole fruits and vegetables, as well as rush ice and seeds.
The combination of that much power and an excellent blade system means that the device is able to amply extract vitamins and nutrients from each ingredient—but is that enough to garner the label of best blender on the market?
Similar to the Epica, The Nutri Ninja also comes with lids, called “Sip & Seal,” which allows you to take your drinks wherever you go.
The device comes with two bottle sizes – regular (24 oz.) and small (18 oz.). Safety is also of utmost importance to Nutri Ninja, as each part is labeled BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
Pros
With over 4 times more wattage than the Epica, the Nutri Ninja stands as a powerful device. Paired with the durable and sharp Extractor Blades, the device can liquefy and break down tough ingredients in seconds. Less effort on your part, and a speedier blend for busy days.
Speaking of rushing through your blend, the Nutri Ninja wins at convenience and efficiency – it comes with two take-along bottles: a 24 oz and an 18 oz one.
Though 24 oz isn’t much larger than Epica’s 20 oz, it still offers just a bit more space. Having two options for takeaway bottles is also a plus for versatility.
The package is also said to come with a 75 recipe guide, which is handy for first-timers and long-time blenders alike. Whether it’s about not knowing how to portion the ingredients for your first smoothie, or growing tired of your go-to mix, the recipe guide is sure to offer some great new ideas.
Again, the blender is BPA-free and dishwasher safe, so that’s good for worrywarts and germaphobes.
Cons
More wattage equals more power consumed. And that means a higher electricity bill.
OXA Powerful 4-in-1 Hand Blender 300 W – Black
Features
The OXA 4-in-1 Hand Blender stands out as the only hand blender on this list. Its motor packs 300 watts of power and comes with a range of attachments that lets you process your food in lots of different ways.
With the 500ml mini processor bowl attachment, you can chop foods into chunks or sauces, as you would using a food processor. With the 600ml beaker, both hot and cold liquids can be held and processed.
With the whisk attachment, the OXA can be used for preparing whipped cream or fluffing up eggs for baking needs. The hand blender alone can be used in large bowls or pans.
The stainless steel blades are sharp and durable, and all attachments and detachable parts can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Pros
At 300 watts, it’s the ‘goldilocks’ of the three devices vying for the title of best blender on the market, at least in the area of power and energy consumption.
There’s no doubt that the standout feature of this blender is its multitude of attachments. There’s almost one to produce every kind of output. This versatility also extends to its ability to hold and process both hot and cold foods, similar to the Epica.
The stainless steel blades are touted as sharp and durable, which means that it isn’t just a flexible machine, it’s also a powerful puncher.
Dishwasher-safe attachments put it on par with the other two blenders on the list.
Cons
This is the only blender among the three that doesn’t come with a ready-to-use bottle. Together with its handheld design and need for setting up, this device does not score a win at convenience and efficiency.
The handheld design also makes it a little riskier to use than the two above, which places the spinning blade in an enclosed container throughout use.
Summary
Based on the ones listed above, naming the best blender on the market is tough, as each one offers its own unique feature. The Epica is a champion of safety with its suction feet and shutoff feature, but scores low on power.
The Nutri Ninja is the most powerful, yet this can be detrimental to those concerned about their electric bill. The OXA has lots of attachments and options for output, but the handheld design makes it difficult to give it a high safety and convenience score.
Ultimately, the best out of the three is the one that has the least amount of cons, and that’s the Nutri Ninja. It packs a mean punch, it’s versatile, and it’s safe.
Its higher wattage shouldn’t be that much of a concern, as you will be able to blend stuff at a much faster rate anyway.